Breath of Fire Sunnydale

Chapter 10 - Graduation Day - Part 1

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Daylight - Sunnydale High

Cordelia and Xander sign for their gowns just like most of the other students.

"I can't believe this loser look." Cordelia complained, holding up her maroon gown. "I lobbied so hard for the teal. No one ever listens to me. A lone fashionable wolf."

"I like the Maroon." Xander added to his ex. "Has more dignity."

"Dignity? You? In relation to clothes? I am awash in a sea of confusion." Cordelia mocked.

"I just want to look respectable in this, considering I'm probably gonna die in it." Xander shot back.

Cordelia looked at him confused. "Excuse me?"

"I'm telling you. I woke up the other day with this feeling in my gut." Xander explained. "I just know there's no way I'm getting out of this school alive."

"Wow, you've really mastered the power of positive giving-up." Cordelia replied sarcastically.

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Xander walked up to Buffy and Willow, and sat at their table.

"You can't do both?" Willow had just finished asking.

"Both what?" Xander asked.

"Go to graduation and fight the Mayor." Buffy answered.

"The Mayor?" Xander asked, remembering what Faith had told him the night before. "What, you guys didn't hear?"

Buffy looked confused. "Hear what?"

Xander smiled sadly. "Guess who our commencement speaker is?"

"Siegfried?"

"No."

"Roy?"

"No."

"One of the tigers?"

Xander sighed. "Come out of the fantasy, Will."

"I don't believe this." Buffy moaned.

"Lends credence to my whole "I'm gonna die" theorem, doesn't it?" Xander asked.

"The Mayor at graduation?" Buffy questioned. "A hundred helpless kids to feed on. Got any other surprises for us?"

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Wirth's Apartment

"Just a minute," Professor Wirth called out as he moved towards the door. Upon opening it, he found a man wearing a smoking coat.

"May I come in, Professor Wirth?" the male voice asked from underneath the coat.

"Um...yes." The Professor answered, a bit uncertainly. Before he could do anything, Wirth felt a pair of strong hands grip his throat. His last thoughts before hearing the sharp crack of his own neck were, 'Oh dear.'

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Faith's Apartment

The Mayor is tidying up around the apartment. "Not to worry, Faith. Everything went smoothly with Mr. Wirth."

"Not if you're Mr. Wirth." Faith replied from behind a closed door.

"Well, that's swell. I have this thing about loose ends." The Mayor giggled. "And the big day is so close, you can smell the excitement in the air. Say, are you ever coming out of there?"

"I don't know."

"Aw, come on." The Mayor whined.

Faith exited the room wearing a pink-white dress, barefoot..

"Wow, aren't you a vision?" The Mayor praised.

"I feel I look stupid in this." Faith complained, but thinking of how Xander would like her in this dress.

"You look lovely. Perfect for the Ascension. Any boys that manage to survive will be lining up to ask you out." The Mayor continued.

"It just isn't me, though." Faith replied. 'Besides there's only one who I want anyway.'

"Not you? Let me tell you something. Nobody knows what you are. Not even you, little Miss Seen-it-all. The Ascension isn't just my day. It's yours too. Your day to blossom, to show the world what a powerful girl you are. I think of what you've done, what I know you will do," The Mayor said as he caresses her face, "no father could be prouder."

Faith sighed. "I hope I don't let you down."

"Impossible. Now come on, change back into your street clothes. I'll buy you an ice-e.

They share a smile.

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Library

Giles and Wesley are fencing as Buffy stands to the side, holding up a newspaper with the headline: PROFESSOR FOUND MURDERED.

"Faith." Buffy said, rage burning in her eyes.

"You sure?" Giles asked.

"One of her pieces. I recognize the brush work." Buffy asked sarcastically.

Giles takes the paper and holds it in one hand, reading while parrying Wesley's light attacks. "Brutally killed by unknown assailant. Lester Wirth, visiting professor of geology. There's nothing in here that bellows motive."

"Random killing, perhaps? Fit of rage?" Willow piped up from the corner of the library. "Everybody does seem to be going a bit mad, lately. Faith has something of a head start."

"Doesn't read." Buffy agreed. "I think it's homework."

Giles stops sparring. "The Mayor wanted the good professor out of the way."

"Which leads to the question, how come?" Buffy asked. "I'm gonna destroy the entire city, but I take the time to kill harmless Lester first?"

"Tying up loose ends?" Giles asked. "Lester had something or knew something."

"Then I wanna know too." Buffy said stubbornly. "The Mayor's trying to hide. I say we go seek."

"Ah. By attempting to keep a valuable clue from us, the Mayor may have inadvertently led us right to it." Wesley explained with a sword flourish.

"What page are you on, Wes, cause we already got there." Buffy angrily replied to the young Watcher.

"Yes, well. You will go tonight. Look over his apartment. Anything of note, report back here." Wesley commanded, trying to get some control back.

"I just love it when you take charge, you man, you."

"Uh, we... was that a yes? I have trouble keeping track." Wesley asked the blonde.

"I'll go." Buffy clarified.

"Be careful." Giles warned. "If Faith should show up..."

"I don't think she'll show. Been there, killed that. She's not much for follow-up." Buffy replied, acting invincible once again.

"Nonetheless, keep watch. Faith has you at a disadvantage, Buffy." Giles explained.

Buffy sneered. "Cause I'm not crazy or cause I don't kill people?"

"Both, actually." Giles answered.

"I hear you. I can't kill her, fun as it may sound." Buffy whined. "I can make her cry uncle, though, and I mean to."

"Don't let your feelings about Faith interfere with your work." Wesley added.

"Stopping Faith is my work." Buffy said. "Take a beat to love the synergy."

Willow looked up from a book on demons. "Faith is a footnote. Our priority is stopping the Ascension."

There was a gasp from the entrance. The group turned to see Anya standing there with a look of fear in her eyes. "Did you say ascension?"

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Professor Wirth's Apartment

Buffy collected papers and books, putting them in a file box. She was a little shaken about what Anya had said about the ascension, but knew they needed whatever it was that Wirth had that got him killed..

"Ow!" a voice moaned from behind her.

Buffy turned behind her to find Angel. "Stealthy."

"Not my best entrance." Angel cracked. "I think they were mopping in the halls."

Buffy looked at him questioningly. "What are you doing here?"

"I checked in with Giles. He asked me to back you up." Angel explained.

"He's afraid I'll run into Faith."

"And you're not?" Angel asked.

Buffy shrugged. "It's gonna happen sooner or later."

"What's that?" Angel asked as he pointed to the papers Buffy had just put into the file box.

"A report." Buffy said. "Excavation of some old lava bed. Guy was a volcano-ologist or something."

"Anything in there that connects him to the Mayor?" Angel asked.

"I looked through it, but the only thing I understood were the commas. Gonna bring it to Giles, see if he can do better.' Buffy said as she picked up the box.

"Let me give you a hand." Angel said as he takes the box. They leave the apartment. As they step outside Buffy begins to speak.

"You know what? Thank you, but I can take it from here."

Angel looked down at her. "It's alright. I'll walk you there."

Buffy began to get angry with the vampire. "Look, I don't need an escort. I'm a big girl. Superpowers, remember? I don't need you crowding me."

Angel looked downcast. "I didn't think I was."

"No, of course you don't." Buffy glared. "You just show up at the prom and then you disappear into the ozone. For all I know, you left town."

"Are you mad at me for being around too much or for not being around enough?" Angel asked the short blonde.

"Duh. Yes."

"Which?"

"What?" Buffy asked.

"I don't get you."

"No, you don't," Buffy said looking down at their feet, "not anymore."

"Are you just making this harder to make this easier on yourself?"

"Could we stop with the brain-teasers?" Buffy asked. "I just wish it was over, done."

"It's not that simple. I mean, once the Mayor ..."

Buffy interrupted. "I know, world in peril and we have to work together. This is my last office romance, I'll tell you that."

"I'll get out of your face." Angel said after a moment of silence. He dropped the box at her feet and turned away.

"Isn't it even a little hard for you?: Buffy asked his retreating form.

"How can you ask me that?" Angel asked, suddenly angry. "Just because I'm not acting like a brat doesn't mean I don't feel..."

"It's nice to know what you thing of me!" Buffy yelled.

"What do you expect me to say when you just attack?" Angel yelled back.

"I just can't do this anymore." Buffy said throwing her hands in the air. "I can't have you in my life when I'm trying to move on."

The sound of an arrow striking is heard, as an arrow sticks out the front of the cursed vampire's jacket. He falls into Buffy's arms.

"Angel!"

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Mayor's Office

The Mayor places the Box of Gavrock on his desk as the vampire that killed Wirth enters.

"He's as good a dead, boss."

"Applause, applause." The Mayor said, clapping his hands.

"Right in the back. He pitches over and the Slayer goes crazy, looking around, all panicked. It's was a good time."

"Well, that should keep her occupied for a spell."

"What next?"

"Now?" The Mayor asked. "You die."

The Mayor threw a stake at the vamp and watched as it turned to dust. "I do so hate loose ends."

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Sunnydale High Hallway

Xander walked through a darkened school hallway. He didn't want to believe that it had been Faith that had killed The Professor or shot Angel, but Buffy seemed hell bent on killing her now. His thoughts were interrupted as Anya rushed to meet him.

"Xander."

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in Aruba by now." Xander asked, He too had been told about Anya's Ascension experience.

"Hey, I'm packed. My car's right outside. I-I just, um, I-I had to, uh..." Anya stuttered.

Xander looked at the Ex-Vengeance demon. "What?"

"You could come with me." Anya finally got out.

"Come with you?" Xander asked. "You mean that?"

"Why not? We could just get in the car and drive. No one would miss us. We could take turns driving. Keep each other awake. You're going to die if you stay here." Anya rushed out.

"I guess I might." Xander shrugged.

"When I think that something could happen to you, it feels bad inside, like I might vomit."

"Welcome to the world of romance."

"It's horrible. No wonder I used to get so much work." Anya moaned.

"Well, I'm sorry I give you barfy feelings." Xander said sarcastically.

"Come with me." Anya pleaded.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I got friends on the line." Xander explained. " And there's someone else."

"So?"

"That humanity thing's still a work in progress, isn't it?" Xander asked.

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Chemistry Lab

"Finding the poison wasn't that hard. It's a mystical compound. The Latin name translates roughly to Killer of the Dead. Used on vampires." Willow explained to Buffy, Xander, and Oz.

"And the cure?" Buffy asked the red-head.

"There aren't a lot of instances of it being cured."

"But there are some?"

"One or two." Willow answered. "Pretty vague accounts. How is he?"

"Hold it." Oz said looking up from a book.

"You got something?" Xander asked the wolf.

"I'm not sure."

Buffy looked at the musician. "Be sure."

"Okay." Oz said. "Killer of the Dead. That's our boy, and here's a vamp that walked away from it."

Willow eyes widened with interest. "Does it talk about the cure?"

"Damn."

"Nothing?" Buffy asked.

"No, it's in here, but..." Oz paused.

Willow read over his shoulder. "Wait, completely reversed the effects. Oh."

Buffy looked at her friend. "What?"

"Come on guys, the suspense is killing Angel." Xander quipped.

"The only way to cure this thing is to drain the blood of a Slayer."

"Good." Buffy said after a long pause.

"Good?" Xander asked, but knowing where Buffy was going with this by the looked in her eyes. "What did I miss?"

"No, it's perfect." Buffy said, a touch of insanity poking through her yes. "Angel needs to drain a Slayer, then I'll bring him one."

"Buffy, if Angel drains Faith's blood, it'll kill her." Willow said, but Xander could tell she didn't care.

"Not if she's already dead." Buffy said with a small smile.

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Faith works out on a punching bag.

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Buffy washes her face and stares at herself in a mirror. She looks down for a moment, and then lifts Faith's dagger.

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Angel rolls on his couch. The poison burning him up from the inside.

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Faith ends her workout.

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Buffy walks away from the mirror.

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Willow looked at the address on her computer.

"Got it."

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A pair of green eyes watch as Buffy leaves her house. The owner sighs and follows.

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Faith's Apartment

Faith is reading a comic book while music blares.  Behind her Buffy stands across the room. She turns off the stereo causing Faith to turn.

"Thought I'd stop by."

"What are you doing here?" Faith asked the blonde

"He's not gonna die. It was a good try, though. Your plan?" Buffy said as she stepped closer to the younger Slayer.

"Uh-huh. Mind filling the rest of us in on your little psycho trip."

"There's a cure."

"For what? Did all that bleach finally leak into your head or something?" Faith asked, getting worried, she didn't know what the hell was up with the Buffy, but it was freaking her out.

Buffy ignore her as she whipped out Faith's dagger. "Your blood. As justice goes, it's not un-poetic, don't you think?"

Buffy rushed Faith suddenly intent on running the blade through the Slayer. The blade was stopped a foot away from Faith's heart. Buffy looked up to see Xander, holding her arm.

"Don't, Buff."

"What the hell are you doing, Xander?" Buffy said as she tugged her arm out of Xander's grip.

"Stopping you from making a mistake." Xander said moving to stand between the blonde and brunette. "She didn't have anything to do with Angel."

Buffy looked between them and a crazed smile came to her face. "Your sleeping with her!"

Xander's eyes widened, giving him away. "Look Buff. If you want her you have to go through me."

"Not a problem." Buffy yelled as she thrust at Xander.

Xander punches her in the jaw, stopping her. She moves back and swerves around Xander, tackling Faith and throwing them both out a window, onto the terrace.

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Mayor's Office.

One of the Gavrok bugs is pinned, unmoving, to the desk with a knife. Two  leg stick out of the Mayor's mouth. He chews and swallows. A vampire looks on uncertainly.

"Mmm. My god, what a feeling. The power of these creatures. It suffuses my being. I can feel the changes begin. My organs are shifting, changing, making ready for the Ascension. Plus these babies are high in fiber. And what's the fun in becoming an immortal demon if you're not regular, am I right?"

A second vampire bursts into the room.

"We don't knock during dark rituals?" The Mayor asked.

"Sir, there may be trouble. At Faith's."

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Faith's Apartment

"What's the matter?" Buffy asked Faith as she took a swipe at Faith with the blade. "All that killing, you afraid to die?"

Faith spins Buffy and used her legs to kick Buffy away. She grabbed a broken pipe and faces the blonde, who holds her knife.

"That's mine." Faith said eyeing the blade.

Buffy smiled. "You're about to get it back."

They exchange blows, Faith dodging the knife. They move to the edge of the terrace and Faith holds Buffy at the edge. "Man, B., I don't know what the hell your problem, but the only person I've killed other than demons was Finch."

 "Buffy, she telling the truth, she's not evil."  Xander shouted, as he jumped through the broken window. He believed in Faith, and knew she wouldn't have killed another human.

"Yeah right." Buffy growled, as she breaks Faith's grip and plunges the knife into Faith's abdomen. Both of them looked stunned for a moment.

"You stabbed, me." Faith said, pushing Buffy away. She looked at Xander, smiling weakly. 'Love you.' She mouthed, before she fell backwards off the wall.

"Faith!" Xander yelled, trying to shove past Buffy.

Buffy gripped his arm. "Let her go, Xan. We need to go save Angel."

Xander looked at her in shock. He looked over the edge and watched as his love was driven away on top of a truck destined for an unknown destination.

He turned his fiery green eyes to the blonde. "Fuck you, Slayer."

He concentrated on the genes in his head. He chose his first transformation – the Trygon.

The dark sphere enveloped him, and transformed him into the seven foot tall, brownish yellow dragon.

As the sphere left, the dragon took one last look at the Slayer, before flapping it's wings and flying after the truck.

TO BECONTINUED IN THE FINAL CHAPTER

R&R SOON!!!!!!!